2-Day Building Regulatory Law Reform Summit in Canberra 21 to 22 February 2018

The Building Products Innovation Council and Lovegrove and Cotton Construction & Planning Lawyers are hosting a 2 day summit and think-tank on building regulations and building control for the future. The summit is an invitation-only event and it is expected that a “white paper” will be one of the outcomes of this summit for the consideration of the states and territories, key interest groups and policymakers.

Attached is the issues paper and the line-up of speakers who will address and brainstorm with the attendees. The purpose of attaching the brochure is to raise awareness with regards to an important 2018 event.

Can a Builder be Sued Twice for the Same Defects?

Can a builder be sued twice for the same defects? In this article, Justin Cotton sets out the legal precedents relevant to situations where building defect claims reappear after a prior ruling at Court or VCAT.

Responding to Building Orders Issued by Building Surveyors Under the Building Act 1993

Building orders need to be treated like 'sweating dynamite' as the consequences of not acting within the time speculated will be serious. Failure to abide by building orders will have a severe impact upon the respondent; be it an owner or a building practitioner. This piece explains processes and consequences of recalcitrant conduct.

Force of Personality

This piece, penned by Kim Lovegrove RML, FAIB, was published in the US Defense and Foreign Policy Strategy magazine edited by Gregory Copley AM. The piece is titled "Force of Personality" and deals with the correlation between same and some of the more effective mediators. One reader of this article made the observation that the virtues extolled of mediators operating in a geopolitical theatre can readily migrate to any theatre of conflict resolution - be it commercial or civil.